Gas-compressor.



No. 720,872. PATENTED P213317, 1903.

s. E. ALLEY.

GAS COMPRESSOR.

APPILIOATIO! FILED HOV. 1B, 1902.

10 MODEL. 8 SHEETS-$113121 1.

WL t 11. 0,8,5 c,s In V6 711% o r:

No. 720,872. PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903.

s. E. ALLEY.

GAS COMPRESSOR.

APPLIGATIOK FILED NOV. 18, 1902.

I0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903. S. E. ALLEY.

GAS COMPRESSOR.

AE'PLXUATIOI FILED IOV. 18, 1902.

10 MODEL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

We nos; as

' duav;

m mm: m on. mum, wmmm'om a c.

rrrrno TATES PATEN Fries.

STEPHEN EVANS ALLEY, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

GAS-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 720,872, dated February 17, 1903. Application filed November 18, 1902 Serial No. 131,872. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN Evans ALLEY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Glasgow, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Gas-Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air or other gas compressors of the type in which a difierential piston reciprocates within a cylinder and forms therewith two or more compressionchambers, the gas being successively compressed in these chambers.

According to this invention a plurality of inlet and outlet valvesis provided on the cylinder, an inlet-conduit is led from a source of air or other gas supply to one inlet valve and thence to one of the compression-chambers, an outlet-conduit extends from that chamber to an outlet-valve and thence to an inlet-conduit leading to another inlet-valve and thence to another of the compression-chambers, and

another outlet-conduit is led from that other chamber to another outlet-valve. The moving part of each valve is operatively connected with that of the other similarly-acting valve, and means are provided for opening and closing the valves in proper sequence for predetermined periods. Preferably a plurality of valve-chests is provided on the cylinder for the inlet and outlet valves. In this case an inlet-conduit is led from the source of air or other gas supply to one inlet-valve chest and thence to one of the compressionchambers, an outlet conduit extends from that chamber to an outlet-valve chest and thence leads to an inlet-conduit, to the aforementioned inlet-valve chest, and thence to another of the compression-chambers, and another outlet-conduit is led from that other chamber to the aforementioned outlet-valve chest. A plurality of sliding valves is disposed in the chests, one in the inlet-valve chest and in the inlet-conduits of that chest and constituting a partition between said inlet-conduits and another in the outlet-valve chest in the outlet-conduits of that chest and constituting a partition between said outletconduits.

In the preferred form of the gas-compressor according to this invention the gas which is successively compressed in the compressionchambers of the cylinder is passed from one chamber through an intercooler and thence to another of the chambers. In this case the outlet-conduit from the first compressionchamber passes to the intercooler, and an inlet-conduit connects the intercooler with the inlet-valve chest and thence passes to the other compression-chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred form of gas-compressor according to this invention, Figure l is a side elevation of the compressor, partly in section, on the line 1 l of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the compressor, half in section, on the line 2 2 of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 3 is a planof the compressor, showing the positions of the valvechests.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a frame A supports a cylinder B, havinga water-jacket A.

A differential trunk-piston is disposed in the cylinder and has atrunk O and two operatingfaces C and 0 one of these, C, having a greater effective area than the other, C A crank-shaft D, mounted in bearings D in the frame A, is operatively connected with the trunk O by a connecting-rod D A cylindercover B, together with the greater face of the piston O'and the cylinder, form the first compression-cha mber b, and a projecting portion B on the cylinder, constituting the trunkguide, forms with the lesser face G of the piston and the cylinder a second compressionchamber 19 An intercooler comprising a series of connected gas-tight pipes E is arranged under the frame A of the compressor. The casing E of the intercooler serves as the base of the frame A and contains cooling-water which encircles and cools the pipes E. Two valve-chests F F are attached along one side ofthe cylinder, one of these, F, for an inletvalve, and the other, F for an outlet-valve. An inlet conduit G is provided from the source of air or gas supply to the inlet-valve chest F and thence to the first compressionchamber 21', An outlet-conduit G extends from the first compression-chamber b to the outlet-valve chest F and thence to the intercooler E. Another inlet-conduit H connects the intercooler E with the inlet-valve chest F and thence passes to the second compressionchamber b Another outlet-conduit H is led from the second compression-chamber b to the outlet-valve chest F, from which the compressed air or gas is discharged. Two piston sliding valves J J are disposed inthe valvechests, one, J, in the inlet-valve chest F and arranged to control the two inlet-conduits G and H in that chest, the former by its upper end 3' which travels to and fro across it, and the latter by its lower endj which operates in like manner in relation thereto, and the other, J, in the outlet-valve chest F and arranged to control the two outlet-conduits G and II in the chest by its upper and lower ends j and j, respectively, which travel, like the ends of the inlet-valve, to and fro across them. Each piston sliding valve is provided with a gas-tight diaphragm J which enables the valve to serve also as a partition to separate the two conduits of its chest. Two eccentrics K and K are mounted on the crankshaft, one, K, connected by an eccentric-rod L, cross-head M and valve-spindle M to the diaphragm J of the inlet piston sliding valve J, and the other eccentric, K, connected by an eccentric-rod L, cross-head M and valvespindle M to the diaphragm J of the outlet piston sliding valve J. Guides N for the cross-heads M M are provided on the frame A.

The operation of the compressor is as follows: As the piston moves downward the upper end j of the inlet piston-valve J opens the inlet-conduit G to the first compressionchamber 1), and gas enters that chamber during the downstroke of the piston. The upper end j of the inlet valve-piston J then closes the inlet-conduit G, and the piston rises and compresses the gas up to a certain point when the piston-face O is approaching the cylindercover B, when the upper end j of the outlet piston-valve J opens the outlet-conduit G. The compressed gas then passes through the conduit G to the intercooler E. At the same time as compression takes place in the first compression-chamber b the under face of the piston O recedes from the projection B The lower end j of the inlet piston-valve J opens the inlet-conduit H, and gas passes from the intercooler E through the conduit H into the second compression-chamber 12 When the piston is lowered, the lower end 3' of the inlet piston-valve J closes the inlet-conduit H, and the gas is compressed in the compression-chamber b up to a certain point when the lower piston-face C is approaching the projection 13*, when the lower end j of the outlet piston-valve J opens the outlet-conduit 1-1 and allows the compressed gas to be discharged from the second compressionchamber 19 through the outlet-conduit H to a receiver or the like.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a stage gas-compressor the combination of a differential trunk reciprocating piston, a cylinder containing it and divided conduit from a source of gas-supply to the inlet-valve chest and thence to one of the two said compression -chambers, an outlet-conduit from that chamber to the outlet-valve chest and thence to the intercooler, an inletconduit from the intercooler to the inlet-valve chest and thence to the other of said compression-chambers, an outlet-conduit from that other chamber to the outlet-valve chest, two piston sliding valves one in the inlet-valve chest and in the inlet-conduits of that chest and constitutinga gas-tight partition between them and the other in the outlet-valve chest and in the outlet-conduits of that chest and constituting a gas-tight partition between them, and two eccentrics on the crank-shaft one operatively connected to the inlet-valve and the other to the outlet-valve.

2. In a stage gascompressor the combination of a differential trunk reciprocating piston, a cylinder containing it and divided by the piston into two compression-chambers, a crank-shaft operatively connected with that piston, an inlet-valve chest, an outlet-valve chest, an intercooler comprising a series of connected gas-tight pipes, an inlet-conduit from a source of gas-supply to the inlet-valve chest and thence to one of the two said compression-chambers, an outlet-conduit from that chamber to the outlet-valve chest and thence to the intercooler, an inlet-conduit from the intercooler to the inlet-valve chest and thence to the other of said compression-chambers, an outlet-conduit from that other chamber to the outlet-valve chest, two piston sliding valves one in the inlet-valve chest and in the inlet-conduits of that chest and constituting a gas-tight partition between them, and the other in the outlet-valve chest and in the outlet-conduits of that chest and constituting a gas-tight partition between them, and two eccentrics on the crank-shaft one operatively connected to the inlet-valve and the other to the outlet-valve.

3. In a stage gas-compressor the combination of 'a differential trunk reciprocating piston, a cylinder containing it and divided by the piston into two compression-chambers, a crank-shaft operatively connected with that piston, an inlet-valve chest, an outlet-valve chest, an intercooler, an inlet-conduit from a source of gas-supply to the inlet-valve chest and thence to one of the two said compressionchambers, an outlet-conduit from that chamber to the outlet-valve chest and thence to the intercooler, an inlet-conduit from the intercooler to the inlet-valve chest and thence to the other of said com pression-chambers,an outlet conduit from that other chamber to the outletvalve chest, two piston sliding valves, one in the inlet-valve chest and in the inlet-conduits of that chest and constituting a gas-tight partition between them, and the other in the outlet-valve chest and in the outlet-conduits of that chest and constituting a gas-tight partition between them, and two eccentrics on thecrank-shaft one operatively connected to the inlet-valve and the other to the outletvalve.

4. In a stage gas-compressor the combination of a differential trunk reciprocating piston, a cylinder containing it and divided by the piston into two compression-chambers, a crank-shaft operatively connected with that piston, an inlet-valve chest, an outlet-valve chest, an inlet-conduit from a source of gassupply to the inlet-valve chest and thence to one of the two said com pression-chambers, an outlet-conduit from that chamber to the outlet-valve chest and thence to an inlet-conduit to the inlet valve chest and thence to the other of said compression-chambers, an outlet-conduit from that other chamber to the outletvalve chest, two piston sliding valves one in the inlet-valve chest and in the inlet-conduits of that chest and constituting a gas-tight partition between them, and the other in the outlet-valve chest and in the outlet-conduits of that chest and constituting a gas-tight partition between them, and two eccentrics on the crank-shaft one operatively connected to the inlet-valve and the other to the outletvalve.

5. In a stage gas-compressor the combination with a cylinder, a differential piston therein whereby said cylinder is divided into a plurality of compression-chambers, and with means for reciprocating the piston, of a plurality of valve-chests for inlet and outlet valves, an intercooler, an inletconduit from a source of gas-supply to an inlet-valve chest and thence to one of the said compressionchambers, an outlet-conduit from that chamher to an outlet-valve chest and thence to the intercooler, an inlet-conduit from the intercooler to the aforementioned inlet-valve chest and thence to another of said compressionchambers, an outlet-conduit from that other chamber to the aforementioned outlet-valve chest, a plurality of sliding valves one in the inlet-valve chest in the inlet-conduits of that chest, and another in the outlet-valve chest in the outlet-conduits of that chest, and

means for operating those sliding valves.

6. In a stage gas-compressor the combination with a cylinder, a difierential piston therein whereby said cylinder is divided into a plurality of compression-chambers, and with means for reciprocating the piston, of a plurality of valve-chests for inlet and outlet valves, an inlet-conduit from a source of gassupply to an inlet-valve chest and thence to one of the said compression-chambers, an outlet-conduit from that chamber to an outletvalve chest and thence to an inlet-conduit to the aforementioned inlet valve chest and thence to another of said compression-chambers, an outlet-conduit from that other chamher to the aforementioned outlet-valve chest a plurality of sliding valves one in the inletvalve chest in the inlet-conduits of that chest, and another in the outlet-valve chest in the outlet-conduits of that chest, and means for operating those sliding valves.

7. In a stage gas-compressor the combination with a cylinder, a differential piston therein, whereby said cylinder is divided into a plurality of compression chambers, and with means for reciprocating the piston, of a plurality of inlet and outlet valves, an inletconduit from a source of gas-supply to one inlet-valve and thence to one of the said compression-chambers, an outlet-conduit from that chamber to an outlet-valve and thence to an inlet-conduit to another inlet-valve and thence to another of said compression-chambers, an outlet-conduit from that other chamber to another outlet-valve, an operative connection between the moving part of each valve and that of the other similarly-acting valve, and means for opening and closing the valves in proper sequence for predetermined periods.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN EVANS ALLEY. 

